Alex Batty, the 17-year-old who returned to the UK six years after being taken by his mother and grandfather, has admitted he invented a story about walking for four days through mountains to protect them from child abduction charges. In his first interview, he told The Sun that he decided to leave after an argument with his mother, realising she was "a great person but not a great mum."
Batty disappeared in 2017 while on holiday in Spain with his mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather. He was found near Toulouse, France, after walking 22 miles in two days. He initially claimed he had walked for four days, but now says he lied to make it harder for police to track his mother and grandfather.
"I've been lying to try and protect my mum and grandad but I realise that they're probably gonna get caught anyway," he said. The teenager, now under the legal guardianship of his grandmother in Oldham, said his mother was "anti-government, anti-vax" and that her catchphrase was "becoming a slave to the system."
Batty said he grew tired of a nomadic lifestyle with "no friends and no social life" and constant work without study. He decided to leave after his mother announced plans to move to Finland. French prosecutors confirmed Melanie Batty may be in Finland and does not have legal parental guardianship.
After being cared for by French authorities, Batty met his step-grandfather at Toulouse airport and flew back to the UK. Greater Manchester Police said he is "where he wants to be" and can now reconnect with family and friends.
